Covid-19 Observations

[Randi]

A Chinese teacher's reflections on Covid-19 and the lock down...

We are just finishing our 7th week of E-Learning, seven weeks of being mainly housebound and seven weeks of uncertainty. We are healthy, we are happy, and we are humbled.

We are allowed to move around freely now with a green QR code that we show when we get our temperature taken. You get your temperature taken everywhere, and it's just become part of the routine. Most restaurants and shopping centres are now open, and life is coming back to our city.

As we watch the rest of the world begin their time inside; here are some of my reflections on the last seven weeks:

1. Accept that you have no control over the situation. Let go of any thoughts of trying to plan too much for the next month or two. Things change so fast. Don't be angry and annoyed at the system. Anxiety goes down, and you make the best of the situation - whatever that might be for you. Accept that this is what it is and things will get easier.

2. Try not to listen to/read/watch too much media. It WILL drive you crazy. There is a thing as too much!

3. The sense of community I have felt during this time is incredible. I could choose who I wanted to spend my energy on - who I wanted to call, message and connect with and found the quality of my relationships has improved.

4. Appreciate this enforced downtime. When do you ever have time like this? I will miss it when we go back to the fast-paced speed of the 'real world'.

5. Time goes fast. I still haven't picked up the ukelele I planned to learn, and there are box set TV shows I haven't watched yet.

6. As a teacher, the relationships I have built with my students have only continued to grow. I have loved seeing how independent they are; filming themselves to respond to tasks while also learning essential life skills such as balance, risk-taking and problem-solving, that even we as adults are still learning.

7. You learn to appreciate the little things; sunshine through the window, flowers blossoming and being able to enjoy a coffee in a cafe.

To those just beginning this journey, You will get through it. Listen to what you are told, follow the rules and look out for each other. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

[phesina]

Thank you, Randi. This is beautiful, and encouraging!

Good health and safety to you and all our friends,

From Sparkler and Galaxy and Pat

[Karen]

It was an extremely busy day here at the Post Office, and for the most part, my dear postal patrons were vigilant about maintaining social distance. I do have bleach wipes and hand sanitizer on the counter, and several people sanitized the door handle on their way out for the next person.

Many people were mailing packages - more than normal - so I was busy with postal matters even in my midday "off" time, though I did get to go home briefly and see the animals, pet the puppy and Dusky, and enjoy the sunshine.

I am also working the next two days, the woman who usually works Friday and Saturday is maintaining quarantine out of an abundance of caution, as she was in Washington State just as it broke out there, and her husband may have come down with Covid 3 days after they got home, and two weeks later she is symptomatic. She has not been tested, but many of the PO box holders and people who come in are elderly, so we agreed she should err on the side of caution.

Vermont is on a lock-down of sorts, people in nonessential businesses are only supposed to leave home for groceries, pharmacy, etc. Lots of businesses have closed for now - theoretically until April 15th. We will see.

[snakemama]

I quit my job today. I was planning to work until the end of April, two weeks before my due date, but I just can't. Need to put the baby first. I miss my job and my coworkers and my patients.

[Karen]

I quit my job today. I was planning to work until the end of April, two weeks before my due date, but I just can't. Need to put the baby first. I miss my job and my coworkers and my patients.

Absolutely understandable. You will be in our prayers.

[mon]

My husband is a forklift mechanic so he doesn't have to have human contact and always wears a mask. I'm staying home but was wondering about the newspaper and fliers left at the door.... is that paranoia or common sense? Threw the top sheet of the newspaper away and washed my hands....🙈😜😜 should we not eat fresh vegetables, do cans have germs on them, I'm not sure, got so tired of all the television info, Trudeau and specifically Trump, he's a freaking chimpanzee, I stopped watching, maybe I shouldn't have. Sorry to the chimps.

[snakemama]

My husband is a forklift mechanic so he doesn't have to have human contact and always wears a mask. I'm staying home but was wondering about the newspaper and fliers left at the door.... is that paranoia or common sense? Threw the top sheet of the newspaper away and washed my hands.... should we not eat fresh vegetables, do cans have germs on them, I'm not sure, got so tired of all the television info, Trudeau and specifically Trump, he's a freaking chimpanzee, I stopped watching, maybe I shouldn't have. Sorry to the chimps.

There is a virologist posting on another forum I belong to, she says that the risk of contamination from food is VERY low and as long as produce is getting a good rinse it should be fine. The virus can live on cardboard and paper-like surfaces for ~24 hours, so I'm letting packages and mail spend a night in the garage before I open them. Said virologist is emphatic that just because there is some detectable virus left on the packaging doesn't mean it's enough to cause infection so mail and packages should be just fine.

[fghoieks]

Is there anybody here who could help me with a private consultation? I tried to follow the step-by-step guide but failed. It seems to me that access is restricted from my area worldpostalcode.com/united-states/georgia/atlanta. Can it be the case? Or what else can cause this issue? Please write to my private messages to discuss if you have a free hour this or next week. Thanks in advance.

[Karen]

Is there anybody here who could help me with a private consultation? I tried to follow the step-by-step guide but failed. It seems to me that access is restricted from my area worldpostalcode.com/united-states/georgia/atlanta. Can it be the case? Or what else can cause this issue? Please write to my private messages to discuss if you have a free hour this or next week. Thanks in advance.

A private consultation about what? And what step-by-step guide?